Archive for the 'Jim Mora' Tag Under 'UCLA' Category

A day after a rumors connected Jim Mora to a potential interview for the New York Jets head coaching vacancy, the third-year UCLA coach extinguished those reports, reaffirming that neither he nor his agent, Jimmy Sexton, have made any overtures to NFL teams who happen to be searching for a new coach.

"I’ve never wavered from saying I’m very happy at UCLA," Mora said on the Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday morning. "I love college football. I love coaching the UCLA Bruins."

Mora's name has already been mentioned in conjunction with the Jets' opening, after New York inquired last week about the terms of Mora's buyout, and in San Francisco, where Mora once served as defensive coordinator.

Mora's tenure in the NFL is certainly much longer than his three years spent in Westwood. Mora spent 24 years with five different NFL teams before taking the UCLA job before the 2012 season. Even after Mora turned down Washington and rejected preliminary advances from Texas last season, NFL openings concerned many UCLA fans, given Mora's history with the league.

On Monday, after a report claimed Mora accepted an interview with the Jets, an assistant walked into his office and joked, "I thought you were in New York."

UPDATE: CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reports on Twitter that, while the Jets have interest in interviewing Mora, "he has NOT agreed to meet with them, contrary to reports."

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A few days after wrapping up his second-straight, 10-win campaign at UCLA, Jim Mora will interview for the New York Jets head coaching vacancy, according to a report from Bruin Report Online.

Mora will interview for the position in New York either today or tomorrow; though, the report suggests that Mora is not the Jets' first-choice candidate, nor is he certain to leap to the NFL, if offered the position. But the fact that he will interview for an NFL job, after his name has been bantied-about the coaching carousel for the past two offseasons, is a development in itself.

When Mora's name was initially tied to the Jets' and 49ers' openings, he was asked about the rumors during UCLA's bowl prep in San Antonio. But he didn't do much at the time to soothe those concerned that he may be looking for another chance to coach in the NFL.

SAN ANTONIO -- The college football coaching carousel may have stopped spinning for the moment, but Jim Mora, who spent the majority of his career in the NFL, continues to be mentioned in conjunction for jobs at the next level.

Whether those swirling rumors have any legitimacy is another question entirely. And on Thursday, Mora gave a curt response to questions about his job status.

"I have no plans to coach anywhere other than UCLA at this point," Mora said when asked directly about rumors of his candidacy for one of the NFL's several openings.

Of course, there's some notable wiggle room in Mora's statement. At no time did Mora flat-out deny that he might jump ship from UCLA this offseason. But UCLA players and coaches have all expressed the sentiment that they don't see Mora leaving for the NFL.

That won't stop Mora's name from being mentioned further in the coming weeks, though. Reports have already attached his name to the Jets' and 49ers' openings, while the Bills, Raiders, Falcons, and Bears are also looking for a coach.

LOS ANGELES -- The college football coaching carousel is in full swing, and for the second straight offseason, Jim Mora’s name is being tossed around the rumor mill for some of the nation’s more prestigious job openings. Most recently, Mora has been mentioned as a candidate for Michigan’s open coaching position.

In his third season and a year removed from signing a contract extension through 2019, Mora has consistently reiterated his loyalty to UCLA. Last offseason, he turned down his alma mater, Washington, and pulled his name from heavy consideration for the open Texas job.

Sentiment this time around is the same -- that chances of Mora jumping ship, especially for another college job, are slim to none.